What Is Hydroponic Gardening? The Basics Of Hydroponic Gardening
Hydroponic gardening is what takes place when a liquid nutrient solution is formulated and the plant is suspended above and rests its roots in the solution.
Just as all plants need light/sun, water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and minerals, so also do plants grown using hydroponics. But they acquire some of these needs differently than soil grown plants.
In a soil grown plant, the plant is able to live because by watering it, its roots will grow and reach out in search of the nutrients and water in the soil. The soil itself is basically there just to hold the plant in an upright position and to block the sun from the roots.
Since it’s the nutrients and not the soil that allows plants to grow, this makes hydroponic gardening possible. When the liquid nutrients are flowing about freely at the plant’s roots, the roots don’t need to grow out in search of food and water. This allows most of the plant’s energy to be spent growing the good stuff above the root. Soil grown plants have much larger roots, and much less foliage than that of a hydroponically grown garden.
Most hydroponic planting takes place in a greeenhouse, or some other enclosed structure to allow the most controlled environment. This allows you to better control the light, temperature, pests, weather, etc.
Just about anything that can be grown through soil, can be grown through this technique. Woody plants like shrubs, rose bushes, grape vines, and just trees in general, with the exception of banana trees, don’t do too well. Though the seeds from these woody-like plants can easily be germinated using this method.
Hydroponic gardening is what some would say is garden growing on steroids. When you get the correct blend of mineral nutrients for a particular plant, fruit, or vegetable, harvesting time comes considerably sooner and with a higher yield, than that of the traditional soil method.
So, what is hydroponic gardening? It’s gardening without soil!
If you would like a free, easy, beginners plan to build your own hydroponic garden, please visit the links below.
Pamela Winters is a stay at home mom and a home gardening enthusiast, who enjoys growing her own fruits and vegetables. Although she is still in the learning stages of hydroponic gardening, she realizes the fun and challenge involved in this unique method of gardening. Here is the link again to get your free hydroponic gardening plan, and to gain a greater insight to what hydroponic gardening is. Visit
www.all-about-greenhouses.com
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